3
Background and objectives Above age 65, the incidence of overt HF is currently ~10/1000 person-years. Because of the ageing of populations, the prevalence of HF will rise by 50% over the next years, increasing health care costs. 50% of HF patients die within 4 years. The diagnosis of asymptomatic LV dysfunction (imaging + biomarkers) is key in the prevention and treatment of HF. Objectives:  To explore (using TDI) the prevalence of asymptomatic systolic and diastolic LV dysfunction in a general population;  To identify (cross-sectionally and prospectively) risk factors and biomarkers for LV dysfunction. Heart failure

7
Standardised echocardiographic protocol Flemish Study on Environment, Genes and Health Outcomes (FLEMENGHO); A single observer is performing all echocardiographic examinations by means of Vivid 7 ultrasound scanner (GE Vingmed, Horten, Norway) according to a standardised protocol; All echocardiographic examinations are stored in digital format on a local network for off-line reading (EchoPac, GE and SPEQLE, University of Leuven); Leuven is the core centre for cardiac and arterial phenotyping, management of samples, database construction, and statistical analysis. EPOGH

18
Conclusions of this section LV strain and strain rate, as measured by 1-dimensional colour Doppler imaging in a general population, decreased with age, body weight, central obesity, and RWT. LV strain and strain rate are sensitive tools for the detection of subclinical systolic dysfunction associated with abdominal obesity and LV remodelling. The clinical applicability of strain and strain rate in the stratification and/or in the administration of treatment remains to be established. This cross-sectional study shows that LV radial strain decreased with plasma Annexin A5. Strain

25
Conclusions LV diastolic dysfunction in a random population sample, as estimated from echocardiographic measurements, is common (27.3%). Our findings are clinically relevant, because patients with subclinical diastolic dysfunction often progress to overt HF. TDI is a sensitive method for the detection of early diastolic (and systolic) LV dysfunction in a general population, particularly in subjects with LV remodelling and normal EF. DiaHF